Written on: September 14, 2021 by ICM
The Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey has released the multimedia SmartHeatNJ campaign across the Garden State to educate New Jersey consumers about the costs and consequences of the Energy Master Plan, specifically the expense of requiring families to convert their homes to electric heat, costing $20,000 or more.
“While we all support clean energy goals, the Energy Master Plan in its current form comes at too great a cost for New Jersey families, equivalent to a $20,000 (or more) home heat tax,” said Jeanette Hoffman, spokeswoman for SmartHeatNJ. “If we continue to follow this misguided plan in its current form, New Jerseyans will be forced to convert their homes to inefficient electric heat at a cost of $20,000 or more. It will also strain our already fragile electric grid and lead to increased winter power outages.”
Hoffman added that there are better ways to achieve clean energy goals by 2050, such as existing heating sources like natural gas, propane and heating oil that are transitioning to zero-carbon solutions.
The comprehensive advocacy campaign will include television, radio, digital ads, and billboards, among other voter communications. The website, SmartHeatNJ.com will allow voters to contact their legislator to tell them to say no to this mandate and support alternative legislation to achieve the objective of carbon-free heating in an affordable and achievable manner.
“Achieving the Energy Master Plan’s objective without crippling families will require a directional shift,” Hoffman added. “Without an alternative and sustainable path, New Jersey homeowners are in for dramatically increased expenses, fewer choices in how they heat and cool their homes, and a potentially dangerous strain on our electric grid.”
